Bak on the Farm
October 11th, 2000
1400 hrs.
45 F
scattered clouds
As the team at the hide site watches anxiously, Mariusz slings his rifle and, in spite of the gunshot, continues to walk towards the farm complex with arms outstretched.
Hoping that the farm isn't under new management, Mariusz draws nearer. Two large dogs round the cattle shed and pelt towards him. His heart begins to race, slowing a few beats only when he recognizes the ugly curs. The dogs pull up short, alternating between barking and snarling. After a few nervous seconds, the dogs stop their aggressive posturing, seeming to recognize him. They nose up to him sniffing furiously before rearing up on their hind legs, paws on his chest, licking at his face. He's enjoying the reunion of sorts when he hears the voice of the farmer's wife. Looking up he sees a middle aged woman in a long skirt wielding a Moisin Nagant carbine with fixed bayonet. Her weatherbeaten face is engraved with suspicion before a glimmer of recognition softens her expression.
"Mari, is that you?"
The farmer's wife drags the dogs off of Mariusz and embraces him.
"My, look at you! I think you've grown! What are you doing here? Where's the padre? Quick, come inside."
She leads Mariusz past the cow sheds towards the farm house.
As Mariusz and the woman dissapear from view, the party at the hide site is left waiting and wondering at what exactly is going on. They are debating what to do when Minh arrives with the second wave in the boats. The second lift piles out and unloads their supplies. After a quick break to stretch their legs, Minh and Jason head back to the tug for the final run.
Mariusz is spotted returning across the field soon thereafter, dogs trotting alongside. When he closes to within shouting distance, he calls out,
"Come on out! It's safe. The family say that we can stay in the cattle sheds. Come on."
Leaving a couple of people behind to await the third load, the party hefts their packs and begins to walk, heavily laden, towards their new lodgings.
When the third and final lift arrives two hours later, they unload and hide the boats before heading off after the others with the balance of the gear.
The entire party is reunited in the cattle sheds. At one time, the long, low buildings were home to hundreds of milk cows. Now, only a few dozen remain. A majority of the stalls are empty. Milking machines, like derelict robotic guards, stand watch every several meters down the center of the passageway between the long rows of stalls on either side.
The farmer arrives, carbine slung over his shoulder, with a young, unarmed black man in tow. The young man wears a course, gray, wool outfit, with a large red P stencilled on the back. The farmer introduces himself in Polish.
"I am Andrzej Bak. You all are welcome to stay here for the evening. Friends of Brother Switek..." he crosses himself, "...are friends of ours. I'm afraid the accomodations are not much, but the farmhouse is quite full at the moment. We have several refugees from the city living with us now, and our helper here, as well. The women are preparing food for you and we will bring blankets too. If you build a fire in here, please do be careful. And watch out for the mouser. He's a testy puss, that one."
The young man then introduces himself, speaking in American English,
"I'm Latrell Watkins. I guess I, uh, kind of work here now."
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This message was last edited by the GM at 02:52, Fri 26 Sept 2008.